Iceland12
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http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_27030058/gophers-football-at-wisconsin-who-has-edge
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Briean Boddy-Calhoun has forced a turnover in each of the past three games. ... The Badgers' defense is nearly as formidable as their offense. Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in total defense (259.3 yards allowed), pass defense (162.2) and scoring defense (16.1 points allowed). The Badgers rank second nationally in total defense, third in scoring defense and third-down defense (27.7 percent), and fifth in run defense (97.1). EDGE: WISCONSIN----------------
SPECIAL TEAMS -- Winning the special-teams battle will be critical for the Gophers. Having a field-goal attempt blocked and returned for a touchdown was a 10-point swing that put Minnesota in a 21-7 halftime hole at Nebraska. Can't happen again. Freshman Ryan Santoso ranks just 10th in the Big Ten, converting 69.2 percent of his field goals, but he's capable of kicking from distance and in the clutch. A difference-maker could be Peter Mortell, who leads the conference in punting average (44.8). ... Wisconsin also has a talented freshman kicker in Rafael Gaglianone, who is 10 of 12 on field goals in Big Ten games. He showed his leg strength with a 51-yard field goal in his first college game, against LSU. EDGE: MINNESOTA
PREDICTION -- The stakes haven't been this high in the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe since Minnesota lost the Big Ten title to Wisconsin on a controversial roughing-the-passer call on Bobby Bell in 1962. The Gophers haven't won a Big Ten championship since they shared it with Indiana and Purdue in 1967 -- 47 years ago. All signs point to Gordon having a big day and Minnesota struggling to run with Cobb hurt. But Kill has been building his program for a moment like this. Could be fate. GOPHERS, 24-23
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Briean Boddy-Calhoun has forced a turnover in each of the past three games. ... The Badgers' defense is nearly as formidable as their offense. Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in total defense (259.3 yards allowed), pass defense (162.2) and scoring defense (16.1 points allowed). The Badgers rank second nationally in total defense, third in scoring defense and third-down defense (27.7 percent), and fifth in run defense (97.1). EDGE: WISCONSIN----------------
SPECIAL TEAMS -- Winning the special-teams battle will be critical for the Gophers. Having a field-goal attempt blocked and returned for a touchdown was a 10-point swing that put Minnesota in a 21-7 halftime hole at Nebraska. Can't happen again. Freshman Ryan Santoso ranks just 10th in the Big Ten, converting 69.2 percent of his field goals, but he's capable of kicking from distance and in the clutch. A difference-maker could be Peter Mortell, who leads the conference in punting average (44.8). ... Wisconsin also has a talented freshman kicker in Rafael Gaglianone, who is 10 of 12 on field goals in Big Ten games. He showed his leg strength with a 51-yard field goal in his first college game, against LSU. EDGE: MINNESOTA
PREDICTION -- The stakes haven't been this high in the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe since Minnesota lost the Big Ten title to Wisconsin on a controversial roughing-the-passer call on Bobby Bell in 1962. The Gophers haven't won a Big Ten championship since they shared it with Indiana and Purdue in 1967 -- 47 years ago. All signs point to Gordon having a big day and Minnesota struggling to run with Cobb hurt. But Kill has been building his program for a moment like this. Could be fate. GOPHERS, 24-23